Frank Colson on tue 22 dec 09
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THE
NIGHT OF THE FIRING
'Twas he night of the firing and all through the shop
The kiln stood a-waiting, shelves filled to the top
Some pots were glazed with bright Copper Blue,
Others with Celadon, 'Sang de Beouf'' too
Suddenly out on th road there appears,
A large propane truck with a big bunch of gears
The driver jumps out and hooks up my tank,
The air fills with propane - which smelled kinda rank
The stars glitter brightly on this windless night
I candle the burners, then tweak them just right.
Visions of glazes dance in my head,
Blue-greens and mustards, chocolate and red.
I sleep a few hours, then turn up the flame.
I sleep a bit more, then repeat the same.
The kiln now is glowing the color of fire,
I doze for a while, then turn the flames higher
I'm way too excited to go back to sleep,
I pace round the room, I peep in the peep
The hands of the clock move ever so slow!
When finally -oh, FINALLY - cone five bends down low
Praise be to Kiln Gods:prise thm on high!
I see a meteor crossing the sky.
I crank up the heat, flames dance in the flue
Would this firing be perfect, too good to be true?
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My dragon was spitting ribbons of flame,
I open the damper, those ribbons to tame
Reduction would happen, reds were assured
More beautiful even than I had conjured!
I open the studio, stare at the sky
To witness the Southern Cross rising on high
The night was now fading away to the sun
Cone ten gave a bow, my firing was done
Inside that kiln were treasures galore
2009 Christmas was worth waiting for!
-FRANK COLSON
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